Page 61 of The Crown’s Gift

"I resemble a father old enough to be underestimated."

The colonel smiled grimly. "He has you there."

At half past ten, Sir Thomas left Netherfield in a plain dark coat. Elizabeth watched from the portico beside her mother.

"He once ran toward swords," Lady Bennet said. "I had hoped he had exhausted his taste for it."

"Papa has no taste for danger."

"That is what makes it worse. Brave men in stories enjoy themselves. Real ones leave their wives standing in doorways."

Elizabeth took her hand.

Inside, Mary and Georgiana waited near the library fire. Lydia and Kitty had been sent to bed but could be heard moving overhead. Miss Harwood sat in the corridor with a book open and unread.

At the toll house, Sir Thomas placed the packet beneath the loose stone and walked away without haste. He entered the shadow of a copse and waited.

Eleven struck from the Meryton church.

No one came.

Fifteen minutes passed. Then hoofbeats sounded on the western road. A rider approached without a lantern, dismounted, and led his horse behind the ruin.

Wickham waited five minutes more.

He circled the toll house, searched the road, and finally knelt beside the east wall. He lifted the stone, drew out the packet, and opened it.

The constables emerged.

Wickham moved quickly. He struck the first man with the packet, vaulted the low wall, and ran toward his horse.

Darcy stepped from the darkness.

For one instant the two men faced each other.

Wickham stopped. His charm did not disappear; it rearranged itself.

"Darcy. You misunderstand."

"Put down the packet."

"Your sister invited—"

Darcy crossed the distance and seized the front of his coat. Wickham's smile vanished.

Colonel Fitzwilliam caught Darcy's arm. "Your promise."

Darcy's fist was drawn back. He saw Georgiana at breakfast, asking him not to make violence another burden she carried.

Slowly, he lowered it.

Wickham used the hesitation to twist free. He reached for the horse and found Sir Thomas holding the bridle.

"You," Wickham said.

"An attentive father is very inconvenient."

The constables closed around him.